Monica Max West (she/her)

I am a friendly and approachable integrative therapist with over 25 years of experience working individually with adults.  My integration is primarily of Humanistic and Psychodynamic approaches, which in short means that I work with people's emotional worlds, as well as with the ways in which the past influences the present. 

I work with adult individuals, usually in open-ended work, online and in person. 

Although I am a 'generalist' (meaning I see many people with different presenting issues, including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, self-esteem, neurodiversity, etc), I have also developed a number of areas of expertise such as working with:

• people who grew up in dysfunctional families;
• people who have survived trauma;
• and people who experience addictions/compulsions (including, but not limited to, alcohol, drugs, sex/pornography, love and OCD behaviours). 

I also have expertise and interest in working with creatives, ex-pats, and those who wish to pursue a more mindful way of being. 

My way of being as a therapist is informed by my commitment to anti-oppressive practice, openness to individuals' right to define themselves and their lives, delight in the power and process of creativity, and awareness of the interconnectedness in all life.

I have been working with LGBTQIA+ people since 1995.  I understand that people who identify with and express a non-heteronormative gender identity and/or sexuality can seek therapy for issues completely unrelated to their gender/sexuality and simply want to feel safe and understood in the context of working with an appropriate therapist.  In some cases, of course, gender identity and sexuality may form part of our work together, especially when these important parts of life are evolving and/or in the context of homo/transphobia.

I am a dual national (US/UK) who grew up in the US but has lived in London for approximately 30 years. 

I am cis-gendered, neuro-typical and queer.

My first degree was in Women's Studies, which means that my therapeutic practice is informed by my awareness of differences, power, oppression, privilege, in/equality, diversity and inclusion. 

• I am an activist and am particularly committed to protecting the planet.
• I delight in creativity, and am myself involved with musical and visual arts.
• I am a committed meditator, following a path of mindfulness.

All of these elements inform how I am as a therapist.

I believe that I am an approachable and helpful practitioner because I engage with clients from my heart (compassion), my head (understanding) and through my intuition.  I have a deep respect for all humans as they find their own paths through life.